And like cartoxing m materials



March 3 1954 G. MEYER-JAGENBERG 3,

LIQUID-TIGHT CONTAINER OF PAPER, CARDBOARD AND LIKE CARTON-FORMINGMATERIALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1-- Filed Jan. 22, 1962 March 3 1 G.MEYER-JAGENBERG 27,082 LIQUID-TIGHT CONTAINER OF PAPER, CARDBOARD ANDLIKE CARTON-FORMING MATERIALS Filed Jan. 22, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5

Fig. 7

Fig. 6

United States Patent Ofiice 3,127,082 Patented Mar. 31, 1964 3,127,082LIQUID-TIGHT CGNTAI'NER OF PAPER, CARD- BOARD AND LIKE CARTUN-FORMINGMATE- RIALS Gunther Meyer-Jagenberg, Dusseldorf-Grafenberg, Germany,assignor to Jagenherg-Werke Aht.-Ges., Dusseldorf, Germany Filed .ian.22, 1962, Ser. No. 167,608 Claims priority, application Germany Oct. 18,1961 6 Ciairns. (til. 229-7) This invention relates to an improvedliquid-tight container of paper, cardboard or the like carton-formingmaterial and more particularly to a container of such type in which thetubular body portion is closed at at least one end thereof by means of aroof-shaped, bellowsfold closure which closure is provided with apouring aperture.

In containers of the type above mentioned having upper and/or lower-shaped folding components which containers are primarily intended forreceiving mass consumption products such as milk or the like. Thearrangement and form of a pouring aperture (discharge outlet) is ofgreat significance. Such pouring aperture of necessity must meet veryhigh standards as regards simple, easy and trouble free operation whendispensing or removing the contents of the container. Furthermore, it ismost desirable that when only a portion of the contents of the containerhave been dispensed or removed that the pouring aperture can be closedin such a fashion that dust, dirt or other foreign matter cannot enterthe interior of the container. In addition to the foregoing, steps mustbe taken to avoid an unintentional or accidental opening of the pouringaperture. In view of the fact that a pouring aperture formed initiallyin the wall of the container by means of cutting, grooving, slitting orthe like constitutes a weakening of the container wall, the danger of anunintentional opening and leakage effected by the liquid pressure of thecontents or by outer mechanical influences caused during transportationor storage of the container is particular great.

Liquid type containers of the general type under consideration are knownin the art and in which containers the pouring aperture is located inone of the outer roofshaped surfaces of the bellows-fold closure. Thedamage, hereinabove referred too, as regards the unintentional openingand leaking of the pouring aperture is present in this particularclosure arrangement. Additionally, containers are known in which thepouring aperture is located in the upper zone of one of the side wallsof the container. In addition to the fact that with such latterarrangement there exists not only the possibility of loss of contentsthrough leakage, such containers result in a limitation of the amount ofmaterial which can be received by the container in View of the fact thatthe liquid level must lie below the area of the pouring aperture.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tubular containerwith a S -shaped folding closure which eliminates the above and otherobjectionable characteristics existing in the art.

To accomplish the above and other advantageous objects, the presentinvention includes the concept of locating the pouring aperture in oneof the roof-shaped, bellows-fold closure portions and close suchaperture by means of a cover component or sheet which can be loosened ordisplaced outwardly from such closure portion and thereby exposing thepouring aperture. This particular arrangement possesses the materialadvantage that the pouring aperture which is sensitive to impact andpressure is located in a protected zone of the container and is coveredby the overlapping parts of the roofshaped, bellows-fold closureportion.

The pouring aperture provided in one of the roofshaped, bellows-foldclosure portions extends partially into the adjoining wall portion ofthe container with the disposition being such that only the lower edgeportion of the pouring aperture extends into the Zone of such side wallwhile the main portion of such aperture is situated in the area of theroof-shaped, bellows-fold closure portion. The above mentioned featureis especially efiicacious in that during pouring of the contents of thecontainer a smooth stream of the liquid is provided which meets theprerequisite that at the initiation as well as at the termination of thepouring step the adjoining side wall of the container will not be wettedor dampened by leaking of the liquid.

The cover sheet or component serving to close the pouring aperture is soconstructed and arranged as to extend or project beyond the lower bottomedge of the roof-shaped, bellows-fold closure portion and thus overlapsthe juncture between such closure portion and the adjoining side wall ofa container. Such a formation of the cover sheet or component possessesthe advantage that such sheet can be easily and readily gripped by thefingers for opening the pouring aperture. Furthermore, the covering ofthe upper Zone or area of the adjoining side wall assures that the rimport-ions of the aperture, which during the pouring step will havecontact with the liquid contents, are protected against contamination.For the same reason, the width of the cover sheet or component is sodimensioned that the same extends substantially over the entire width ofthe roof-shaped, bellowsfold portion.

Yet a further advantageous characteristic of the invention is that theupper edge of the cover sheet or component is sealed over its entiresurface with the roofshaped, bellows-fold closure edge and the adjoiningside edges of the cover sheet or component are readily detachablyconnected with such closure portion.

The foregoing method of attachment facilitates the gripping or graspingand loosening of the cover sheet or component for exposing the pouringaperture while the attachment of the upper edge of the cover sheet tothe closure component over its entire width means that such area issufficiently attached to the closure portion so that a completedetachment of the cover sheet or component from the closure portion isavoided or prevented.

To facilitate the opening of that port of the closure portion which iscovered by the roof-shaped component and which contains the pouringaperture, the upper edges of the inner layers of the closure portion areconnected together in a readily detachable fashion in the area of theroof-shaped, bellows-fold closure portion provided with such pouringaperture whereas the other edges of the closure portion are firmlysecured together.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become readilyapparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawingsand in which drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in prospective of a container construction inaccordance with present invention with the container in the openposition,

FIGURE 2 is a prospective view showing the filled and closed container,

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken throughthe closure portion provided with the pouring aperture,

FIGURES 47 are views in prospective illustrating the container closureportion in various steps of the opening operation; and,

FIGURE 8 is a view on an enlarged scale of the closure portion providedwith the pouring aperture.

In the manufacture or production of a liquid-tight, preferably prismaticcontainer, one usually starts with an initially flat scored or cut piececovered on one or both sides with a synthetic material possessing notonly impregnating characteristics but also characteristics which becomeadhesive under the influence of pressure and heat. Such a piece afterbeing provided with score lines for the subsequent formation of theroof-shaped, bellows fold closure portion and with a prepared pouringaperture is shaped into an open ended tubular body by longitudinallyseaming such piece such as shown in FIGURE 1. After forming the lower 2g -shaped folding closure portion which is suitably flattened to providea bottom which will permit the container to stand upright, the containeris ready for the filling operation. After the liquid has been introducedinto the container, the upper opened end of the container is in-foldedin a fashion known in the art and to obtain a tight closure the same issealed under the action of pressure and heat. FIGURE 2 shows thecontainer thus filled and closed.

The present constructional example illustrated is directed to anessentially prismatic container of paper, cardboard or likecarton-forming material which consists of a tubular body, the ends ofwhich are provided with closures C. One of the closures C is aroof-shaped, bellows-fold closure. In the region of one of the inwardlyfolded gable portions 1 of such closure, a pouring aperture 2 isprovided. After the pouring aperture 2 has been punched or otherwiseformed in the portion 1 of the closure such aperture is adapted to beclosed by a foil blank or component 3 which is pasted or otherwisesealed to the inside of the portion 1 as shown in FIGURE 3. Also, on theoutside of the portion 1 a cover sheet 4 is pasted in such a fashionthat the foil blank 3 and the cover sheet 4 are connected togetheradhesively in the zone of the pouring aperture 2. The foil blank 3 isprovided with a cutting line 5 which bounds flap 6 of the aperture. Theopening determined by the line 5 of the foil blank 3 is such as regardsits dimensions and configuration that the opening is smaller than thepouring aperture 2 with the boundary lines of the aperture of the foilblank 3 and the boundary lines of the aperture 2 extending substantiallyequi-distant respecting each other.

As perhaps best shown in FIGURES 1 and 6, the dimensions andconfiguration of the pouring aperture 2 are so selected that the loweredge or perimetric portions thereof extends into side Wall 7 of thecontainer body which adjoins the closure C. Furthermore, the length ofthe cover sheet 4 which extends substantially across the entire width ofthe portion 1 of the closure C is so selected that the sheet extendsover and beyond the lower boundary edge of the closure C and overliesthe upper area of the side wall 7 of the container body.

It will further be noted in FIGURE 1 that the upper edge of the coversheet 4 is sealed to the portion 1 over its entire surface whereas thelower edge and adjoining portions of the side edges of the sheet restunattached to the portion 1 of the closure. To facilitate the initiationof the opening operation, that is to say, be able to raise without greatresistance wall surfaces 8 of the closure C which surfaces coverprotectively the portion 1, upper edges 9 of the inner layers of theclosure are connected together in such a manner as to be easilydetachable whereas the other edges of the closure are sealed togetherfirmly.

The individual steps of the opening operation are illustrated in FIGURES4 to 7 respectively. By reaching under the portions of the surfaces 8 ofthe closure which as above mentioned cover the portion 1 andconsequently the pouring aperture 2, the upper edges 9 of the innerlayers of the closure C can be easily separated in the manner shown inFIGURE 4 since very little resistance must be overcome. These portionsof the surfaces 8 are brought into the position shown in FIGURE 5wherein the same form a common flat surface on which the cover sheet 4also lies essentially fiat. It is now possible to lift the cover sheet 4by gripping its lower edge and the sarne can be detached from portion 1of the closure sufficiently far to expose the full area of the pouringaperture 2. Upon dispensing a portion of the contents of the container,the pouring aperture 2 can again be closed by a reverse sequence ofoperation.

The invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity to theshowing in the drawings but changes or modifications can be madetherein, so long as such changes or modifications make no materialdeparture from the spirit and scope of the annexed claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A liquid-tight container of paper, cardboard and like carton-formingmaterial, comprising wall means defining a tubular body, a roof-shapedclosure means including inwardly folded gable surfaces for at least oneend of said wall means, one of said inwardly folded gable surfaces beingprovided with a pouring aperture therein, cover means secured to theoutside of said inwardly folded gable surface for closing said aperture,said cover means including portions detachable outwardly from saidinwardly folded gable surface for exposing said pouring aperture, saidclosure means including portions adapted to cover said aperture, andmeans detachably securing said portions together for protecting saidaperture.

2. A liquid-tight container of paper, cardboard and like carton-formingmaterial comprising wall means defining a tubular body, a roof-shaped,bellows-fold closure means for at least one end of said wall means, saidbellows-fold of the closure means being provided with a pouring aperturetherein with at least one edge of said aperture extending into the wallmeans adjoining the roofshaped, bellows-fold closure means, and covermeans secured to the outside of the bellow-fold for closing the pouringaperture, and said cover means including portions detachable outwardlyfrom the bellows-fold and wall means adjoining the closure means forexposing the pouring aperture.

3. A liquid-tight container as claimed in claim 2 in which the main areaof said pouring aperture is located in said bellows-fold of the closuremeans.

4. A liquid-tight container as claimed in claim 3 in which said covermeans is of such dimensions as to provide a portion extending beyond thejuncture between the wall means and said closure means.

5. A liquid-tight container as claimed in claim 4 in which said covermeans includes a sheet having upper, lower and side edges, said sheetother than the lower edge and adjoining portions of the side edges beingsealed to said bellows-fold of the closure means.

6. A leak proof container as claimed in claim 5 in which the upper edgesof the inner surfaces of said closure means are detachably connectedtogether while the other edges of said closure means are sealedtogether.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,870,935 Houghtelling Ian. 27, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 393,199 GreatBritain June 7, 1933 1,054,008 Germany Mar. 26, 1959

1. A LIQUID-TIGHT CONTAINER OF PAPER, CARBOARD AND LIKE CARTON-FORMINGMATERIAL, COMPRISING WALL MEANS DEFINING A TUBULAR BODY, A ROOF-SHAPEDCLOSURE MEANS INCLUDING INWARDLY FOLDED GABLE SURFACES FOR AT LEAST ONEEND OF SAID WALL MEANS, ONE OF SAID INWARDLY FOLDED GABLE SURFACES BEINGPROVIDED WITH A POURING APERTURE THEREIN, COVER MEANS SECURED TO THEOUTSIDE OF SAID INWARDLY FOLDED GABLE SURFACE FOR CLOSING SAIDAPERATURE, SAID COVER MEANS INCLUDING PORTIONS DETACHABLE OUTWARDLY FROMSAID INWARDLY FOLDED GABLE SURFACE FOR EXPOSING SAID POURING APERTURE,SAID CLOSURE MEANS INCLUDING PORTIONS ADAPTED TO COVER SAID APERTURE,AND MEANS DETACHABLY SECURING SAID PORTIONS TOGETHER FOR PROTECTING SAIDAPERTURE.